Yussuf suffers injury blow on Albion return

INJURY-HIT Burton Albion striker Adi Yussuf faces another spell on the sidelines after breaking down after only five minutes of his first outing in six weeks.

The former Leicester City youngster was sent on as a second-half substitute in Tuesday&rsquos reserve team game against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

Yussuf celebrated his return to action with a goal &mdash dash only to suffer a quick recurrence of a troublesome groin injury that has kept him out of the first-team squad since the 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers at the Pirelli Stadium on October 13.

Brewers boss Gary Rowett said: &ldquoAdi got himself a goal and then had to come off all within the space of five minutes.

&ldquoHe felt his groin tighten up so we took him off straight away.&rdquo

The injury has marred Yussuf&rsquos hopes of a regular place in Albion&rsquos squad after his goal against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the Capital One Cup on the opening day of the season.

He kept his place for Albion&rsquos first League Two game, away to Rotherham United, but his only other starting role was at Bradford City in the third round of the Capital One Cup.

Rowett was delighted with &ldquoencouraging performances&rdquo by other senior players in a 2-2 draw at Tranmere.

He said: &ldquoI thought we were unfortunate not to win the game because we controlled 70 or 80 per cent of game and their keeper had six or seven saves to make.

&ldquoIn fairness, we fielded a really strong side and I thought there were some encouraging performances.

&ldquoCleveland Taylor was bright and people like John McGrath, Jack Dyer, Andy Corbett and Aaron Webster all did well.&rdquo

Webster played the full 90 minutes &mdash his first run-out since picking up a hamstring injury in training more than a month ago.

Rowett also gave loan signing Jacob Blyth his first full outing.

The Leicester City youngster had previously made brief appearances from the bench in the League Two defeats at the hands of Aldershot Town and Wycombe Wanderers.

Tranmere took an early lead thanks to a strike from Max Power, but the Brewers levelled when Taylor ran on to a flick-on to fire home in the 26th minute.

Cole Stockton restored the home team&rsquos lead, finding the left side of the net with a powerful shot from 25 yards.

The Brewers replied on 52 minutes when Yussuf beat Jason Mooney with a shot from a tight angle &mdash dash and it needed saves from the Tranmere keeper to deny Blyth and Webster, while Ben Maher twice cleared off the line.

Rovers were reduced to 10 men on 76 minutes when Stockton was shown a red card for kicking out after a foul, but Albion were unable to take advantage of the extra man.